Flexible reflectors



July 9, 1957 c c 2,798,478 FLEXIBLE REFLECTORS Filed 001.. 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

ADNAN TRRCICI July 9, 1957 A. TARCICI 2,798,478

FLEXIBLE REFLECTORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1952 INVENTOR.

ADA/AN TRRCI Cl July 9, 1957 A. TARCICI 2,798,478

FLEXIBLE REFLECTORS Filed OGG. 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ADNHN TARc cr United States Patent FLEXIBLE. REFLECTORS Adnan Tarcici, Taiz Par Sana, Yemen Application October 28,1952, Serial No. 317,298 Claims priority, application France October 29, 1 951 21 Claims. (Cl. 126-279) The present invention relates to reflectors and to a heating apparatus suitable for heating food or the like by the rays of the sun.

The present application is a continuation-impart of application Serial No. 275,530, filed March 8, 1952, now Patent No. 2,770,230, and entitled Solar Heating Apparatus, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 181,076, filed August 23, 1950, now Patent No. 2,760,482, and entitled Sun-Operated Heating Devices. i

It is an object of the present invention to provide a very simple structure for heating food or the like by rays of the sun.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a structure of this type which is easily adjustable so that the rays of the sun may be concentrated on the point where the article to be heated is located.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device of this type which is collapsible so that it Will require but little space when not in use and may be easily carried about.

An additional object! of the present invention is to provide collapsible reflectors adapted to be used with the apparatus.

The structure of the present invention may take various forms. In general most of the embodiments of the invention will include a post, adjacent the top end of which there is located a support on which a pot. or other cooking utensil may be located. This support may be adjustable so that it may be oriented with a reflector also mounted on the post. p

The reflector which is mounted on the post is preferably of the parabolic type for concentrating the rays of the sun on the article to beheated. The reflector may be mounted on the post for turning movement about a hori- Zonal axis, and the reflector may be formed with a central opening through which the post extends, or with an opening adjacent the periphery thereof and through which the post extends. If desired, the reflector may be connected to the post by means of auniversal joint, and in this type of apparatus the post may or may not be turnable about a vertical axis.

The completely collapsible reflector is made of a flexible material such asplastic or the like. In this fbrnr of reflector, the outer peripheral portion takes the form of a sealed circular endless tube which may be blown up when-thereflector is in use. A flexible, reflectingplastic sheet is connected tothistube and may assume a parabolic shape in any suitable way, such as by providing over this reflecting sheet a transparent sheet to form between these sheetsa second sealed space adapted to be blown up when the device. is, in use. This. second.transparentsheet isnot essential. to. all forms. of. thisutype of reflector, however, since. the reflecting sheet may assume itscurved shapei other ways, as. describedbelom.

The novelfeatureswhich are'considered ascharacteristie for the invention. are set forth: inparticular in the ice appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of s-ecific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a reflector of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is anisometric view of another type of collapsible reflector adapted to be used with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a side, partly sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a side view of another type of reflector and supporting structure therefor; I

Fig. 5 shows a different type of collapsible reflector similar to that shown in Fig. 4 and a support therefor; and

Fig. 6 is a section takeh on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows. 7

Figures 1 to 6 illustrate types of reflectors adapted to be used with the present invention. All of these reflectors are fully collapsible and are made of a flexible material.

One embodiment of a reflecting sheet constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1 where an outer circular sealed tube 89 is adapted to be filled with air or other gas by the valve 90 similar to the valve of an automobile tire. A plurality of radially extending tubes 91 communicate with the tube 89 so that these tubes 91 are filled simultaneously with the filling of tube 90, the tubes 91 :all terminating at a central ring 92 of the reflector, this ring 92 serving to mount the reflector for turning movement. Thus, when all of the tubes 89 and 91 are deflated the reflecting sheet 88 is completely collapsed, and when these tubes are inflated the reflecting sheet is expanded to a position where it may be used for concentrating, the rays of the sun. The tubes 91 are curved when they are inflated so as to give the reflecting sheet 88 the desired parabolic shape. A part of reflecting sheet 88 may beprovided with an opening, as shown in dotted lines on Figure 1, so that a supporting post may pass through this opening.

Figure 2 shows a collapsible reflector having a top transparent sheet and lower reflecting sheet interconnected by the tubular member 58 through which the post 59 extends. Tube 58 is connected toa bottom slotted ring 60 having downwardly extending ears 61 pivoted to post 59. As is shown in Figure 2, the collapsible tube 57 may be independently blown up by a separate valve, and a second valve is connected to the top transparent sheet to blow up the sealed space between this transparent sheet and the lower reflecting sheet connected to the bottom end of tube 58.-

As shown in Figure 3, asheet 148 having a reflecting surface and being flexible is connected at its periphery to a flexible tube 149 which is circular and completely sealed, this tube being adapted to be blown up through a valve 142 identical with valve 90. Over the reflecting sheet 148 there is located a transparent sheet 143 forming with the sheet 148 a sealed space 144 which may be blown up through the valve 145. Thus, when the tube 149 is blown up it automatically assumes a circular shape, and when the space 144 is blown up the sheet 148 assumes a parabolic shape capable of reflecting sun rays passing through the transparent sheet 143. At the center, the sheets 143 and 148 are apertured, sealed to each other and connected to a pivotal support 150in the form of a slotted plate having depending ears pivotally mounted on post 159 similar tothose described above andcarrying a support156 for the'article to be-heated. The reflector shown in Figure 3 may be' used w-ithany of the above described embodiments. A handle 111 is connected to support 150 toadjust the reflector on the post 159'.

Figure 4 illustrates a still further" embodiment where the reflecting sheet 79 is connected to the endless sealed tube 70 which may be blown up by the valve 71. Cords 72 are fixed to or embedded in the lower non-reflecting side of sheet 79 and these cords 72 are connected at 73 to rods or cords 74 which are connected to a sleeve 75 mounted for sliding movement on bar 76 which is joined to the center of the flexible sheet 79, a spring 77 being mounted on the bar 76 to maintain the sleeve 75 distant from the sheet 79. Thus, when the collapsible tube 70 is blown up, the sheet 79 will assume its desired curved shape, whereas when the tube 70 is deflated, the entire apparatus will collapse to a very small space. The sheet 79 may be provided with an aperture through which the supporting post 78 extends, and the reflecting sheet 79 may be articulated on the post 78 in any of the ways described above.

Figures 5 and 6 show an embodiment wherein a top transparent sheet is omitted. Instead, a plurality of cords or rods 62 are connected at their ends to the collapsible tube 64 by being located in recesses, as shown in Figure 6, this collapsible tube 64 being adapted to be blown up by a valve 67. The cords or rods 62 are pivotally joined at their ends distant from the tube 64 to ears struck from a plate 69 which is connected to the top end of a bar 63 which is in turn connected to a ring 65 through which the post 66 extends and pivoted on post 66 by pins 65 fixed to ring 65 and engaging openings in post 66. Thus, when the tube 64 is blown up, the rods or cords 62 will be located over the center of the reflecting sheet 66 and will move the ring 65, through the medium of rods 63, out of the plane in which the tube 64 is located to give the reflecting sheet 64 the desired curved shape.

All of the flexible reflecting sheets shown in Figures 1 to 5 may be made of any suitable material such :as plasics, fabrics, or the like. The reflecting surface of these sheets may be formed by coating these surfaces with a material having, for example, metallic particles distributed therein, or the plastic may simply have a shiny reflecting surface produced in any known way, or by painting or varnishing the reflecting surface.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of collapsible reflectors differing from the types described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in collapsible reflectors for use with solar heaters, I do not intend to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of my invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of my invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side capable of reflecting a substantial amount of light from substantially all of its area; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; and means engaging said sheet to give said reflecting side thereof a concave parabolic shape when said tube is expanded.

2. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a first sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting'side; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; a second transparent flexible sheet located opposite said first sheet and being fixed to said tube to form with said first sheet a space adapted to have a fluid located therein; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheets therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheets therewith to collapse; and second valve means connected to one of said sheets to permit fluid to move into and out of the space between said sheets.

3. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a first sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; a second transparent flexible sheet located opposite said reflecting side of said first sheet and being fixed to said tube to form with said first sheet a space adapted to have a fluid located therein; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheets therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheets therewith to collapse; and second valve means connected to one of said sheets to permit fluid to move into and out of the space between said sheets.

4. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a plastic sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side capable of reflecting a substantial amount of light from substantially all of its area; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; and means engaging said sheet to give said reflecting side thereof a concave parabolic shape when said tube is expanded.

5. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a fabric sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side capable of reflecting a substantial amount of light from substantially all of its area; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet as the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; and means engaging said sheet to give said reflecting side thereof a concave parabolic shape when said tube is expanded.

6. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side formed by a coating having metallic particles distributed therein; an endless flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; and means engaging said sheet to give said reflecting side thereof a concave parabolic shape whensaid tube is expanded.

7. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side formed by a coating of paint; an endless flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; and means env gaging said sheet to give said reflecting side thereof a concave parabolic shape when said tube is expanded.

8. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side formed by a coating of varnish; an endless flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; and means engaging said sheet to give said reflecting side thereof a; concave parabolic shape when said tube. is-expanded.

9; A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a plastic sheet of flexible material having, at least one reflecting side formed by a shiny surface of. said plastic sheet and capable of reflecting a substantial amount of light from substantially all of its area; an endless flexible tube fixed to. said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith. to collapse; and means engaging said sheet to give said reflecting sidethereof: a concave parabolic shape when said tube is expanded;

10; A collapsible reflector. comprising, in combination, a. sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side; an endless flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; a plurality of additional tubes communicating with said endless tube and extending radially inwardv toward the center of said sheet and being fixed to thelatter, saidadditional tubes each having acurved shape when expanded; and valve means connected to said endless tube to permit-a fluid tobe located in the same and said additional tubesto expandall of said tubes and said sheet therewith and to permit the fluid to move out of said tubes to cause the reflector to collapse.

'11. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side; an endless flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; a plurality of additional tubes communicating with said endless tube and extending radially inward toward the center of said sheet and being fixed to the latter, said additional tubes each having a curved shape when expanded; valve means connected to said endless tube to permit a fluid to be located in the same and said additional tubes to expand all of said tubes and said sheet therewith and to permit the fluid to move out of said tubes to cause the reflector to collapse; and a ring fixed to said sheet at the center thereof and being fixed to said plurality of additional tubes, said ring serving to mount the reflector on a support.

12. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a first sheet of flexible material having at least one refleeting side and being formed with a central aperture passing therethr-ough; a second, transparent sheet located over said first sheet opposite said reflecting side thereof and being formed with a central aperture located opposite said aperture of said first sheet; a rigid tube fixed at its opposite ends to said sheets about said apertures thereof, respectively; an endless flexible tube fixed to said sheets at the outer peripheries thereof; first valve means connected to said flexible tube to permit fluid to flow into and out of the same to respectively expand and contract the same and said sheets therewith; and second valve means operatively connected to one of said sheets for permitting fluid to flow to and from the space between said sheets and about said rigid tube.

13. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a first sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side and being formed with a central aperture passing therethrough; a second, transparent sheet located over said first sheet opposite said reflecting side thereof and being formed with a central aperture located opposite said aperture of said first sheet; a rigid tube fixed at its opposite ends to said sheets about said aperture thereof, respectively; an endless flexible tube fixed to said sheets at the outer peripheries thereof; first valve means connected to said flexible tube to permit fluid to flow into and out of the same to respectively expand and contract the same and said sheets therewith; second valve means operatively connected to one of said sheets for permitting fluid to flow to and from the space between said sheets and about said rigid tube; and mounting means connected to said rigid tube for mounting the same on a support.

14-; A collapsible. reflector comprising, in combination, a. first sheet. of flexible material having at least one refleeting, side; a second transparent sheet of flexible material located over said first sheet opposite said reflecting side thereof, said first and second sheets being connected to each other atcentral portions thereof; a flexible endless tube fixed. to said sheets. at the peripheries thereof; first valve means connected to said flexible tube to permit fluid to flow to and from the interior of said tube; second valvemeans operatively connected to one of said sheets to permit fluid to flow to and from the space between said sheets; and mounting means fixed to one of said sheets at said. central portion thereof for mounting the reflector on a support.

15. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said. tube to expand the same and said sheet. therewith and. to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; a plurality of. cords extending radially from said. tube toward. the center of said sheet and being fixed to one side of the. latter; a plurality of elongated membersconnected to said cords, respectively, intermediate the ends thereof; a shaft fixed to said sheet at said one side. thereof and extending from a central portion thereof in a direction away from said one side of said sheet; a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft and being connected to. said elongated members; and releasable holding means mounted on said shaft for releasably holding said sleeve at aposition distant from said sheet.

16. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; a plurality of cords extending radially from said tube toward the center of said sheet and being fixed to one side of the latter; a plurality of elongated flexible members connected to said cords, respectively, intermediate the ends thereof; a shaft fixed to said sheet at said one side thereof and extending from a central portion thereof in a direction away from said one side of said sheet; a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft and being connected to said elongated members; and releasable holding means mounted on said shaft for releasably holding said sleeve at a position distant from said sheet.

17. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; a plurality of cords extending radially from said tube toward the center of said sheet and being fixed to one side of the latter; a plurality of elongated rigid members connected to said cords, respectively, intermediate the ends thereof; a shaft fixed to said sheet at said one side thereof and extending from a central portion thereof in a direction away from said one side of said sheet; a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft and being pivotally connected to said elongated members; and releasable holding means mounted on said shaft for releasably holding said sleeve at a position distant from said sheet.

18. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; a ring fixed to said sheet at a central portion thereof; shaft means fixed at one end to said ring and extending away from said sheet; and a plurality of rods each of which is turnably connected to said shaft means at a part thereof distant from said sheet, said rods extending radially from said shaft means to said tube, being spaced from each other, and being connected to said tube.

19. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; a ring fixed to said sheet at a central portion thereof; shaft means fixed at one end to said ring and extending away from said sheet; and a plurality of rods each of which is turnably connected to said shaft means at a part thereof distant from said sheet, said rods extending radially from said shaft means to said tube, being spaced from each other, and each having an end portion distant from said shaft means and embedded in said tube.

20. A collapsible reflector comprising, in combination, a sheet of flexible material having at least one reflecting side; a flexible tube fixed to said sheet at the periphery thereof; valve means connected to said tube to permit a fluid to be located in said tube to expand the same and said sheet therewith and to permit a fluid to move out of said tube to permit the latter and said sheet therewith to collapse; a ring fixed to said sheet at a central portion thereof; shaft means fixed at one end to said ring and extending away from said sheet; and a plurality of rods each of whichis turnably connected to said shaft means at a part thereof distant from said sheet, said rods extending radially from said shaft means to said tube, being spaced from each other, and being connected to said tube, said shaft means and rods being located opposite said reflecting side of said sheet.

21. A solar heating apparatus, comprising, in combination, a post adapted to extend in a substantially ver tical direction; a support for an article to be heated located on said post; and a collapsible reflector made of a flexible sheet and being turnably connected to said post between said support and a bottom end portion of said post, said reflector including a flexible tube fixed to said 5! eat at the periphery thereof and valve means connected to said tube to permit fluid to flow to and from the same to respectively expand and contract said tube and said sheet therewith, said reflector being formed inwardly of its periphery with an opening passing through the reflector, and said post extending only through said opening to opposite sides of the reflector, said support being located at a part of said post located above and beyond said reflector and said reflector opening being located at a substantially central portion of said reflector.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 787,145 Brown Apr. 11, 1905 1,801,285 Mills Apr. 21, 1931 2,471,302 Boward May 24, 1949 2,513,961 Ostrom July 4, 1950 2,616,096 Hasselquist Nov. 4, 1952 

